Whether you've ever heard of the locally famous call letters WGUL depends largely on how long you've called Pasco County home. Not only was WGUL West Pasco’s first broadcast radio station, its local programming also became somewhat of a local legacy through the years by offering its listeners with a wide-variety of music and talk shows. And, still today a mere mention of those famous call letters brings back a flood of nostalgic memories for some who will likely proclaim, those were the days. WGUL got its start in August 1963, when the FCC assigned the call letters to Jasmine Properties Inc…

So, you’ve probably heard of Crystal Springs or even Salt Springs here in Pasco County, but have you ever heard of Bob Hill Springs? Located in a hammock about 600 feet north of the Pasco-Hernando County line, the little Bob Hill Springs is privately owned by the Holiday Springs RV Resort, which converted the surrounding property into a modern recreational and camping facility. During development of the RV resort in the 1970s, the natural setting of Bob Hill Springs was transformed into a 100-by-200 foot oval pool with concrete walls and perimeter walkways. According to the Bureau of Geology…

As city leaders mull ideas relating to the redevelopment of the Hacienda Hotel, the once-famous landmark continues to sit empty. Since acquiring the building last decade, the city has provided little in the way of upkeep and maintenance, and now time and vandals are beginning to take their toll on the shuttered structure. So, how bad is it? How much has the building really deteriorated in the last six years, under the city’s ownership? These are the questions that I set out to answer amidst rumors of leaking roofs, collapsing ceilings, dangerous molds, and unsafe conditions inside the …

In this final article in our Black History Month series, we continue with the topic of achievements made by local African-Americans in the areas of education. Following our split from Hernando County in 1887, Pasco County’s very first African-American School was established in Dade City. From its inception, this little school made a significant impact in our community. So, this week we trace the beginnings, history, and contributions of the Dade City Colored School through the years. The Early School According to school board records, the school was conceived October 1, 1888, when Freedtown …

On March 3, 1865, nine months before the ratification of the thirteenth amendment and official end to slavery, the U.S. Congress passed a bill to formally create the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Commonly called the Freedmen's Bureau, this agency deemed by some historians as the first federal welfare agency, was given the task of assisting the more than 4 million newly freed slaves in their transition from the plantation to freedom. And, to carry out this enormous task, local Freedmen’s Bureau offices were opened across the south, including right in our backyard with the …

In this week’s entry into the Black History Month series we explore the history, contributions, and active role of Dade City’s historic Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church through the years. From the Frame Meeting House to the Modern Church Among one of the first contributions of the church to Pasco County was recorded on December 28, 1901, when, for the sum of $10, trustees joined together in deeding a ¼-acre to the Town Council of Dade City. This ¼ acre was only a small portion of the acreage that became known as the Dade City Municipal Cemetery in 1903. And, while the church does…

Since 1976, February has been officially designated Black History Month — an annual celebration to recognize the achievements and central role of African- Americans in our history. So, in recognition of this national celebration I'm kicking off a month-long, four-part series that explores some of the lesser known African-American history of Pasco County. This week, we begin by delving into the life of pioneer resident Benjamin B. Baisden, whose work was instrumental in the advancement of one of Pasco County’s pioneer black communities — Freedtown. Born in August 1835, like most African-…

This year’s unseasonably warm winter will likely go down in the record books as one of the warmest we’ve had. And, anyone who has lived in Florida knows from summer to winter our weather can drastically change — something to which most of us have grown accustomed. However, these drastic changes in weather often had severe consequences to our early pioneers, and during the winter of 1894-1895, these consequences were witnessed first-hand during Florida’s Great Freeze. Fruit was frozen on the trees, farmers lost their crops, and land values plummeted — it would take years for an economic …

I’ve often been asked in conversations about our local history, why do we have a Port Richey and New Port Richey and why were both so closely named? So, this week in our “What’s in a Name” series, we explore the origins of the place names of Pasco County’s twin ports, historically known as old Port Richey and new Port Richey. And, while Port Richey’s namesake Aaron Richey wasn’t the first owner of the small point of land that became widely known as Richey Point, it was his contributions that put our little coastal community on the maps. A furniture dealer and horticulturalist by trade, Richey…

So, you’ve probably heard of the infamous feud between the Hattfield and McCoy’s, a story that has graced the silver screen in various forms over the years. But have you ever heard of the Whidden-Whitehurst-Stevenson Feud? According to the Tarpon Spring Truth, this local feud likley resulted from the public whipping of Hudson resident Constantine “Bud” Stevenson by Tarpon Springs’ town marshal, William “Rat” Whitehurst. This whipping was in retaliation against Stevenson, who reportedly beat-up the marshal’s 85-year-old great-uncle, after accusations by the elderly man of stealing cattle.   …

Today, we seldom hear of contaminations to drinking water with such diseases as cholera, typhus, typhoid, malaria or yellow fever. However, to our early settlers these diseases were all too real, and mere rumors of their symptoms often invoked fear and panic in a community that had little knowledge of their origins But, this story isn’t about a panic-stricken community. This is the story of how the claims of one local physician in 1908 led to his arrest for assault with intent to murder in the first degree. This is the story of the life, career, and trial of Dr. James Martin Posey. Who was Dr…

Charles Dickens believed that Christmas was the most glorious season that marked the calendar. To him, it stood for everything that embodied brotherly love, friendship, and gratitude. So, taking a chapter from his novel “A Christmas Carol,” this week we explore some of the honored traditions of a Pasco Christmas past. Just like today, postal services increased during Christmases past, local schools closed and the little country stores stocked their shelves with the best toys, Christmas cards and other holiday particulars. And, if you couldn’t find the perfect gift in town, you could board a …

Let's take a look back at Pasco County’s first community hospital — the Fivay Hospital. Not to be confused with Bayonet Point Hospital on Fivay Road, we’re talking about the Fivay Hospital which officially opened in 1909, in the Pasco lumber town by the same name — Fivay, Florida. Situated on Pasco’s west coast at today’s State Road 52 and Little Road, at its center the one-square mile town had a massive $550,000 sawmill which churned out lumber day and night, 24-hours — this the creation of the Aripeka Saw Mills Company. With no safety regulation, and no emergency safety switches to power …

In 2000, Florida voters were thrown into the spotlight during the too-close-to-call presidential election. When the dust settled, nearly every ballot had been inspected, hand counted, and some thrown out because of their hanging chads or half punched, dimple, like appearances. But, did you know that Pasco’s first county-wide election was similar in many ways to the 2000 debacle? We had less than 1 percent of the total number of today’s registered voters and a much simpler election process. Yet, it was still an election filled with voter fraud, incorrect ballots, and allegations of assumptive …

Full Disclosure: Jeff Cannon serves as Vice-Chairman of the East Elfers Cemetery Committee. Since January, the committee in charge of the East Elfers Cemetery has been noticing a growing trend at the historic burials grounds off Baillie Road in New Port Richey — more and more trash being illegally dumped. Now, they’ve said they will stop those who are responsible for paying disrespect to the hallowed cemetery grounds. It all began when the dumpster mysteriously filled with yard waste and tree limbs over night, leaving no room for use by the cemetery grounds keeper. And, when the dumpster was …

The famous poet Edgar Allen Poe once wrote, “The boundaries which divide Life from Death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends, and the other begins?" So, is there life after death? Are there lost souls trapped between life and death as ghostly figures in this world? Some would say yes. And according to some, Pasco County has its fair share of ghost sightings and paranormal activities. According to the Sun-Sentinel, one of the most active “hot spots” in Pasco County for paranormal activity is reportedly along Anclote Road in the small coastal community by the same …

When you think about Pasco's past, your imagination might conjure up scenes of cows, crackers, orange groves and alligators amidst the backwoods swamp. But, our history can lend much more to the imagination. How about a story of mid-19th century European royalty? That’s right. Royalty, here, in Pasco County. The story behind Pasco’s royal connections begins on the Tisza River in Szeged, Hungary, on March 6, 1856, with the birth of the Countess d’Equivelley — then known as Donna Blanka Theresa Baroness Von Feilitzsch, or D. Baroness Von Feilitzsch. Born into one of the oldest family’s of …

Today, 67 counties comprise the state of Florida. Most of them carry the name of a state or national political dignitary, or of a natural feature synonymous with the respective county. So how did we get the distinct name of Pasco County? Prior to 1887, there was no Pasco County. Instead, we were part of what was then known as Hernando County-- encompassing all of today’s Citrus, Hernando, and Pasco Counties. On June 2, 1887, because of its sheer size and an enthusiasm among the residents for division, Florida Gov. Edward A. Perry signed into law a bill to divide Hernando and make the counties…

Today, Pasco County’s over-developed west coast is nearly void of historic structures and homes that pre-date the 20th century. But, through the fortunate graces of historic preservation, residents do have one or two fine examples of typical mid- to late-19th century “cracker-style” construction. And, tucked away behind Centennial Park Library at 5740 Moog Road in Elfers, is one such example. Here, you will find one of Pasco’s hidden historic gems, called the Baker House. Built sometime between 1876 and 1882 by Samuel Baker, the Baker House is only one of ten historic sites in Pasco County …

Nestled on the south bank of the Pithlachascotee River on Sunset Boulevard in Port Richey, just east of Oelsner Mound, is a quaint little bungalow home built around 1915. This historic little home overlooks a most picturesque spot in the Cotee River, but it’s much more then the age of this structure that makes it important to our local history-- it’s the past owners. This home was once owned by some of the most notable performers of country music-- Johnny Cash and June Carter. County records show on February 18, 1966 the home was acquired by June’s parents Ezra J. and Maybelle Addington …